“There, I told you!� Nick exclaimed triumphantly. “Now mebby you’ll listen! I knew I was right!�
“He’s your friend for life,� Roy declared, with a grin, as he, Ethel, and Teddy walked back to the house, leaving the cowboys to “professor� Nick Looker. “Say, this dance will be a riot! I’ll bet every one of those boys, except, maybe, Pop Burns, is in love with Norine! There’s going to be some wild struggle to decide who has the first waltz with her!�
Supper at the X Bar X was quickly concluded, and the hour for the dance approached. By dint of much coaxing, Gus obtained permission to sit on the side and watch.
“Won’t hurt me a bit,� he proclaimed. “I feel fine! Arm don’t hurt a-tall.�
As the darkness deepened, Nell and Ethel became somewhat worried about their evening dresses. Surely Bug Eye should have been here by now. Mr. Manley went to the phone and called up the 8 X 8. When he returned his face wore a puzzled look.
“Pete Ball says Bug Eye started three hours ago. He’s got your dresses in the flivver, an’ said he should have reached here by six o’clock. Something must have happened to him—a puncture, or a blowout. We’ll just have to wait, that’s all.â€�
A half hour went by, and still no Bug Eye. Nell and Ethel began to grow restless. The party would be a total failure without their evening dresses, they felt.
“Do you think he’ll come?� Nell asked Mr. Manley, over and over again.
“Unless he’s hurt, he will,� the cattle owner responded. “I guess he’ll get here before the dance starts. We’ll wait till late before the music begins.�
But when nine o’clock arrived and there was still no sign of Bug Eye with the dresses, it was decided to go ahead. Ethel and Nell were disappointed, but they made the best of it. Belle and her mother lent them some scarfs and accessories, but they did not have dresses that would fit either of the visitors.